About St. John The Evangelist / St. Elizabeth Pastorate · Epworth, Iowa
St. John the Evangelist Church in Placid is a rural Catholic parish of the St. Elizabeth Pastorate, located on East Pleasant Grove Road in the Epworth area of Dubuque County, Iowa. Founded in 1874, it is the oldest of the six parishes clustered together in the pastorate, which also includes St. Patrick in Epworth, St. John the Baptist in Peosta, St. Joseph in Farley, St. Clement in Bankston, and the pastorate's namesake St. Elizabeth Seton Parish. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Dubuque and is currently served by Fr. Steve Garner. Members of the community worship under the historic names Pleasant Grove, Placid, or St. John Parish, rural Epworth.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Steve Garner
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist, Placid welcomes anyone seeking a small, rural Catholic community rooted in more than 150 years of faith. The parish shares weekly Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM and Wednesday evening Eucharistic Adoration (8:30–10:00 PM) with its sister churches in the St. Elizabeth Pastorate, and offers an active Parish Council, Finance Committee, and Liturgy Committee. Generations of families have sustained this community, making it a place where newcomers are quickly woven into parish life and supported by neighboring parishes within easy driving distance of Epworth.
Mass times at St. John The Evangelist / St. Elizabeth Pastorate
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM at St. Joseph, Farley (pastorate-wide)
- Monday 8:30 AM at St. John the Baptist, Peosta (pastorate-wide)
- Thursday 8:30 AM at St. Patrick, Epworth (pastorate-wide)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM at St. John the Evangelist, Placid
About St. John the Evangelist, Placid
St. John the Evangelist in Placid is one of six parishes of the St. Elizabeth Pastorate serving the western Dubuque County communities of Epworth, Placid, Peosta, Farley, and Bankston. Its mission, alongside the rest of the pastorate, is to proclaim the Gospel to all while nurturing the Catholic faith of parishioners and respecting the individuality of each member parish. The parish is led by Fr. Steve Garner, and the pastorate office at 104 1st Street SE in Epworth is the central point of contact for sacraments, faith formation, and parish records.
History: From Pleasant Grove to Placid (1874–present)
In 1874, before ecumenism was a familiar word, non-Catholic neighbor Edwin Horsfield opened his Pleasant Grove home so neighbors could celebrate Mass. As the Catholic community grew, another Protestant neighbor, known only as Mr. Hooper, donated a two-acre plot to the archdiocese. Fr. John Hawe was charged with building the church and became its first pastor, staying at the Horsfield home until the church was complete. After construction, Horsfield himself entered the Church and gave the Stations of the Cross and a beautiful window above the main altar. Christmas 1874 saw the first liturgy in the new church for fifty families. Fr. Hawe served until 1876, succeeded by Fr. Michael Meagher (1876–1877) and Fr. Michael O'Donnell, who died of illness at age twenty-eight after about eighteen months in Placid.
- First pastor: Fr. John Hawe (1874–1876)
- Second pastor: Fr. Michael Meagher (1876–1877)
- Third pastor: Fr. Michael O'Donnell (d. c. 1879, age 28)
- Original land donated by 'Mr. Hooper' (two acres)
- Stations of the Cross and altar window donated by Edwin Horsfield
How Pleasant Grove Became Placid
The parish records two competing origin stories for the village's name. One holds that the community was simply so peaceful and serene that 'Pleasant Grove' evolved into 'Placid.' The more consistent and popular tradition credits Fr. Placid, a monk of New Melleray Monastery. The parish itself notes that members today still answer to Pleasant Grove, Placid, or St. John Parish, rural Epworth — and 'so the story begins in Pleasant Grove.'
Parish Leadership
The pastorate is led by Fr. Steve Garner (563-876-5540). St. John the Evangelist, Placid is served by an elected Parish Council, a Finance Committee, and a Liturgy Committee whose members are listed on the parish's website.
- Pastor: Fr. Steve Garner
- Parish Council President: Luke McDermott (2021, 2024)
- Parish Council Secretary: Cherie Kennedy (2021, 2024)
- Council members: Melissa Casey, Scott Kennedy, Brent Koopmann, Geri Kalb, Joe Zalanik
- Finance Committee Chair: Janice Krapfl (2025)
- Finance Committee Vice Chair: Tony Krapfl (2025); Secretary: Vicky Coyle (2025)
- Liturgy Committee: Jan Connolly, Gayle Ernst, Kari Feldmann, Liz Flaherty, Joann Koopmann, Janice Krapfl, Karen Loney, Donna Strief
- Cemetery Board
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Youth Faith Formation is organized at the pastorate level through St. Elizabeth Pastorate, with two summer classroom sessions (June 8–19 at Seton Catholic School, Peosta; July 6–17 at Seton Catholic School, Farley), a homeschooling track, and required intergenerational classes at Shannon Hall in Peosta during the school year. Sacramental preparation includes 2nd-grade refresher classes for First Reconciliation (October–November) and First Eucharist (February–March), and Confirmation prep that concludes in the fall. Questions about Confirmation can be directed to Jim Hammerand at the pastorate office.
- Summer Faith Formation – June 8–19, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (Peosta)
- Summer Faith Formation – July 6–17, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (Farley)
- Homeschool Faith Formation (family-paced)
- Intergenerational classes (Wednesdays/Sundays, October–March) at Shannon Hall, Peosta
- First Reconciliation refresher classes (October–November)
- First Eucharist refresher classes (February–March)
- Confirmation preparation (fall); contact Jim Hammerand at 563-876-5540
Ministries, Volunteering & Parish Life
Parish life at St. John the Evangelist revolves around its elected councils and the volunteer ministries that sustain the rural church. Liturgical roles — sacristans, acolytes (servers), readers (commentators and lectors), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, hospitality ministers (ushers and greeters), and musicians — are scheduled through Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP), with enrollments handled online or via the pastorate's Facebook tutorial. The parish hall is available for rental through Lynne McDermott at the Pastorate Office.
- Parish Council
- Finance Committee
- Liturgy Committee
- Cemetery Board
- Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) for liturgical volunteers
- Parish Hall rental (contact Lynne McDermott, 563-876-5540)
St. Elizabeth Pastorate: The Wider Cluster
St. John the Evangelist, Placid is part of the St. Elizabeth Pastorate, which unites rural parishes in western Dubuque County. The pastorate's mission is to proclaim the Gospel to all, support the vitality of each member parish, and nurture the Catholic faith of parishioners while respecting the individuality of each community.
- St. Patrick, Epworth
- St. John the Evangelist, Placid
- St. John the Baptist, Peosta
- St. Joseph, Farley
- St. Clement, Bankston
- St. Elizabeth Seton (pastorate)
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the pastorate office by phone or email Monday through Friday. Office hours are 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM–12:00 PM on Friday; the office is closed Saturday and Sunday. The physical address is 104 1st Street SE, Epworth, IA 52045, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 286, Epworth, IA 52045-0286. St. John the Evangelist Church itself is located at 22481 East Pleasant Grove Road, Epworth, IA 52045.
- Phone: (563) 876-5540
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM; Fri 8 AM–12 PM
- Mailing: P.O. Box 286, Epworth, IA 52045-0286
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Hawe1874–1876
First pastor; built the original church on land donated by Mr. Hooper and began the parish of fifty families.
- Fr. Michael Meagher1876–1877
Succeeded Fr. Hawe as the second pastor.
- Fr. Michael O'Donnell1877–c.1879
Served the parishioners for about a year and a half; died at age twenty-eight after a long illness.